“You Stood Me Up“
from the album A Love Extreme
2008
iTunes
Before he delivers his debut full-length, A Love Extreme, Benji Hughes gives a little preview with A Little Extreme EP. The North Carolina singer/songwriter employs a funny, winning attitude with some interesting song styles to wet appetites.
Little opens with the interesting “Tight Tee Shirt,” which combines a disco-shuffle and a high twinkle. But what’s most remarkable is Hughes’ wry nature, which is just enough of a straight-faced smirk to never dominate but always be present. The bigger “So Well” is still personal, but Hughes’ cock-eyed outlook keeps it from getting too emo. The slower “Waiting for an Invitation” is more of a relaxed alt-country piece, but the sadness isn’t ever overwhelming.
The disco-esque nature returns with “You Stood Me Up,“ and, of all the stylings Hughes tries out on Little, the disco-ish ones are the best. “Stood” has a tongue-in-cheek disco-grand that is reminiscent of famed indie mulit-aspected singer/songwriter Beck. “All You’ve Got to Do is Fall in Love” employs a piano-man low-key charm, but the slow and soft finisher “How Many Birds?” is a little too heavy in its air.
Luckily, “Birds?” is the one Little track that’s not going to be featured on Love. Currently on tour with Rilo Kiley and Thao Nguyen & The Get Down Stay Down, A Little Extreme EP is on sale there (and soon in stores). Whether from Little or live, Hughes is sure to win over some new fans.